State: MO Length: 2 miles Surface: Asphalt
The Arnold City Park Trail follows former residential streets through a wooded area along the Meramec River in a southwestern suburb of St. Louis. It forms a loop that begins and ends at the gravel road at the northeastern corner of Arnold City Park that connects Hollywood Beach Road and Bradley Beach Road. The pathway east of the gravel road (as shown in the trail map) is closed to vehicular traffic. The pathway west of the gravel road is shared with vehicles, although traffic is minimal. The park offers a nice place to relax after your journey with a fishing lake, athletic fields, picnic pavilions and BBQ pits.
Rail-Trail
State: IL Length: 1.40 miles Surface: Asphalt
This 1.4 mile paved trail connects these two small Illinois towns. There are plans in the works to connect this trail to the town of Staunton and from there to the greater Madison County Transit trail system.
State: MO Length: 3.50 miles Surface: Concrete
Centennial Greenway will one day stretch 20 miles through St. Louis County from Creve Coeur County Park at its northern end to Forest Park at its southern tip. Currently, the trail is open in three segments, totaling 3.5 miles (north to south): S. St. Peters Parkway to Upper Bottom Road: This section, paralleling Page Avenue, connects to the Katy Trail, a 200-mile RTC Hall-of-Fame rail-trail, on the banks of the Missouri River. On the other side of the river, you can continue on the Creve Coeur Park Trail to enjoy picturesque natural settings. Olive Boulevard to N. McKnight Road: This short urban section lies just north of the city's 9-hole Ruth Park Golf Course. Delmar Boulevard to S. Skinker Boulevard: This segment provides an important connection between Washington University in St. Louis and Forest Park, which is known as the city's heart and features important cultural attractions such as the zoo, science center, and museums.
State: MO Length: 4.80 miles Surface: Asphalt
For nearly 5 miles, the Columbia Bottom Trail meanders through the Columbia Bottom Conservation Area, which features forests, wetlands and open fields. The trail is part of the Missouri River Greenway, which will one day follow the river for 50 miles from its junction with the Mississippi River to the western edge of St. Louis County. See the confluence of these two mighty rivers from an observation deck at the trail's eastern end near the Missouri/Illinois border.
State: MO Length: 7.70 miles Surface: Asphalt
Travelers on the Creve Couer Park Trail will enjoy watching the sailboats and kayakers on the sparkling Creve Coeur Lake as they loop around the water. The flat paved trail continues through wooded areas and past the picturesque Dripping Springs Waterfall. The trail connects to the Centennial Greenway, which parallels Page Avenue (Highway 364), and connects to the Katy Trail, allowing adventurers to continue their journey on the other side of the Missouri River. The higher vantage point along this portion of the route offers vistas of wetlands and prairies.
State: IL Length: 3.40 miles Surface: Asphalt
The Delyte W. Morris Trail is a paved, two-lane route on the campus of Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, winding past Tower Lake. The trail is named for the university's president at the Carbondale campus in the 1960s who helped create the Edwardsville campus. The trail stretches between New Poag Road and just east of Stadium Drive, where the trail meets the Madison County Transit Bluff Trail.
State: IL Length: 11 miles Surface: Asphalt, Gravel
The Glen Carbon Heritage Bike Trail forms part of more than 85 miles of rail-trails managed by Madison County Transit (MCT), which also runs busses equipped with bike racks for passenger convenience. The feel of the trail is a mix of suburban and rural, and the many people on the trail demonstrate that diversity. Spandex-clad athletes whiz past people from the neighborhood out for a leisurely stroll. Children often use the trail to get to Citizen's Park or Miner Park. It serves as the heart of an integrated transportation system that can be a model for communities in Illinois and beyond. The flat, chip-and-seal surface is good for jogging, so many runners signed up for the Chicago Marathon use the trail as a training ground. And if people-watching gets tiresome, there's always bird-watching; the best times to spot the more reclusive creatures are in the earliest hours of sunrise and at dusk. Start the trail in Citizen's Park in Old Town Glen Carbon, where you can also pick up the MCT Nickel Plate Trail. Several blocks east is Miner Park, which has restrooms, and there are always trail maps and displays at the trailheads. Be sure to bring your camera for a photo of the 340-foot Silver Creek Railroad Trestle in town. The majority of the trail stretches out through farmland on either side, farmhouses dotting the landscape, especially as it approaches the Kuhn Station Road trailhead to the northeast. Technically, the Glen Carbon Heritage Bike Trail runs between the MCT Nickel Plate Trail in Glen Carbon and just west of Old Staunton Road, at which point the trail is also known as the MCT Heritage Trail. From here the trail continues to the town of Marine. Just east of Glen Carbon the Heritage Trail intersects the MCT Goshen Trail.
State: MO Length: 8 miles Surface: Asphalt
Only 10 miles from the famed Gateway Arch in St. Louis, the 8-mile Grant's Trail is heavily used for recreation and commuting. The trail was named for the former President Ulysses S. Grant, and like the arch, is a monument to westward expansion—only the trail follows a former rail line that helped open up the West to settlement. The trail corridor runs through several neighborhoods, often just behind people's backyards. Other sections are more wooded with views of ponds, wetlands and Gravois Creek, which it parallels. And there is no shortage of unique sights: Grant's Farm is home to the 1850s four-room log cabin the famed general and president built. Also calling the area home is a host of animals in a special park, including bison, elephants, camels, peacocks and more than 100 other species. The park's most iconic residents, of course, are the Budweiser Clydesdales, since the Busch family of Anheuser-Busch brewing company fame once owned Grant's Farm. You'll find access to other historical sites along the trail, such as White Haven, another home owned by Grant and now operated by the National Park Service. While at White Haven, Grant approved construction of the Pacific Railroad (later known as the Missouri Pacific Railroad) through his property. Ground was broken for the railway in 1851, and it was billed at the time as "The First Railroad West of the Mississippi." Grant's Trail is built on the former Kirkwood-Carondelet Branch of the rail line. At trail's end in Kirkwood, you'll find remnants of the town's roots in mid- to late 19th-century buildings, including the refurbished 1893 depot still in use today as an Amtrak train station. An on-street connection, part of the Great River Greenways' Bike St. Louis project, takes travelers from the trailhead to downtown Kirkwood and the depot. In an effort to make the city more bicycle friendly, more than 80 miles of these signed on-street Bike St. Louis routes are available throughout the city. Pl
State: MO Length: 237.70 miles Surface: Crushed Stone, Gravel
The Katy Trail State Park is the nation's longest rail-trail project—nearly 238 miles of scenic trail built especially for walkers and cyclists and stretching from Clinton east to Machens, in St. Charles County. Equestrians are allowed to use the western section from the state fairgrounds in Sedalia to Calhoun only. The trail occupies a segment of rail corridor that once carried trains of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (a.k.a., the Katy). In 1986 the railroad ceased operations along this route, literally paving the way to creating the extraordinary recreational opportunity it is today. The Katy Trail passes through some of Missouri's most scenic areas. In particular, much of the trail follows the mighty Missouri River, which feature amazing bluffs. In fact, the segment that passes between St. Charles and Boonville is an official portion of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. The trail includes other landscapes as well, such as forests, wetlands, valleys, remnant prairies and rolling farm fields. Despite the changes in landscape, the Katy Trail is relatively flat. The Katy Trail is part of the American Discovery Trail and is designated a Millennium Legacy Trail. The trail is open only during daylight hours only. Many of the towns along the way offer services to trail users, and you'll find many access points.
State: IL Length: 2 miles Surface: Asphalt
The Madison Count Transit (MCT) Bluff Trail runs for 2 miles between County Road 69 (New Poag Road) and University Drive where the MCT Nature Trail picks up. The trail skirts farmland and athletic fields. Not too far south of New Poag Road, the MCT Bluff Trail also meets the Delyte W. Morris Trail, which crossed Southern Illinois University campus.
State: IL Length: 18.70 miles Surface: Asphalt
Bring your camera to the MCT Confluence Trail. Part of Illinois' Madison County Transit (MCT) bikeways network, this trail is a photographic patchwork of rivers, bridges, waterfront wildlife and industrial cityscape. The trail starts at Russell Commons Park in Alton and curves south, mostly along the Mississippi River levee to Granite City, offering spectacular views along the way. It is perfect for walking or biking, with a smooth asphalt surface in most places and oil and chip seal along the levee by the canal. Leaving the town of Alton, the trail maintains an elevated position so that you will be able to see the highway on your left and the river (and the state of Missouri beyond that) on the right. Heading south, after 1.5 miles, look for the Skinney Island facility, which has locks and a dam and offers great opportunities for taking photos. Soon after this, you arrive at the Amoco facility, with its series of five gates and hills that force cyclists to dismount and walk through them. There are also small hills associated with each of these gates. Be prepared to mount your bike and immediately pedal up the incline. In the town of Hartford, the Lewis and Clark Confluence Tower appears along the left side of the trail, about 7.5 miles south of Alton and 0.75 mile from the Lewis and Clark Museum. The observation decks, historical displays and museum make for a great diversion. In Granite City, the on-road connector takes you along Highway 3 for 3 miles west to the historic Chain of Rocks Bridge. Today, the bridge is reserved exclusively for pedestrians, bicyclists and skaters. Historically, however, this bridge served as the Route 66 connection between Illinois and Missouri. The unique St. Louis skyline welcomes you on the far end of the 1-mile bridge. Back on the trail heading away from the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, you come to the limestone-covered portion of the trail that parallels the Chain of Rocks Canal for 6.5 miles. Turn left on
State: IL Length: 8.50 miles Surface: Asphalt
The Madison County Transit (MCT) Goshen Trail (formerly known as the Schoolhouse Connector) runs between Interstate 70/US 40 in Troy and the MCT Watershed Trail in northwest Edwardsville. The trail features two bridges and 10 tunnels, as well as providing a link in the 85-mile MCT trails system. At Plum Street in Edwardsville the trail intersects the MCT Nature Trail and the MCT Nickel Plate Trail. Near its southern end in Maryville, the Goshen Trail meets the eastern end of the MCT Schoolhouse Trail. North of Interstate 270, the trail intersects Glen Carbon Heritage Bike Trail. Mostly suburban at its northern end, the Goshen trail does pass through nice wooded parks and corridors, as well as farmland at its southern point. By linking the other MCT trails with the Goshen Trail, you can enjoy many miles of developed trails throughout Madison County.
State: IL Length: 14.40 miles Surface: Asphalt
The Madison County Transit Nature Trail stretches 14.4 miles between Edwardsville (adjacent to the Lewis & Clark Community College, N.O. Nelson campus) and Horseshoe Lake. The asphalt trail is one of several linked trails in the region and is popular with students from Southern Illinois University, as well as local commuters and recreationists. The trail links neighborhoods with school campuses and businesses and also passes through farmland on its way to notable Horseshoe Lake State Park. In the north, the trail links with the MCT Nickel Plate Trail; in the south, with the MCT Schoolhouse Trail.
State: IL Length: 21.60 miles Surface: Asphalt, Crushed Stone
The Madison Count Transit (MCT) Nickel Plate Trail runs for 21.6 miles between Main Street in Alhambra and Old Edwardsville Road at State Route 162 in Pontoon Beach. The trail follows a greenway corridor through Glen Carbon and Edwardsville, passing by some light industrial areas before entering farmland and wooded areas on its way to Alhambra. Along the way you'll encounter parks, a golf course and small lakes and retaining ponds. You'll also find access to parks, neighborhoods and historic districts in Edwardsville and Glen Carbon. The MCT Nickel Plate Trail intersects other MCT trails, including the MCT Nature Trail and the MCT Goshen Trail in south Edwardsville (around SR 159/Plum St.) and the Glen Carbon Heritage Bike Trail (MCT Heritage Trail) in Glen Carbon near the ball field at Main Street at the southern end of town. The Nickel Plate Trail also intersects the MCT Nature Trail again at the Nickel Plate's southern terminus at Old Edwardsville Road.
State: IL Length: 18.40 miles Surface: Asphalt, Crushed Stone
The Madison Count Transit (MCT) Quercus Grove Trail runs for 18.4 miles between 6th Street in Staunton and Schwarz Street at Springer Avenue in Edwardsville. The trail is mostly paved except for the sections between Jerusalem Road and Hazel Road and between Spangle Road and near where the railroad tracks cross Route 4. The Quercus Grove Trail links the communities of Hamel, Worden, Staunton and Edwardsville, while also providing access to historical downtown Edwardsville. Along the way you'll pass through wooded sections and farmland, parks and neighborhoods. The trail has a few on-road segments as follows, from north to south: at Spangle Road (0.2 mile); in Hamel between Schroeder Avenue and Trotter Drive (use Old US Route 66/SR 157/Hillsboro Ave. for 0.5 mile); and at Jerusalem Road (0.8 mile), though the trail also continues south to Maple Road (to connect with the MCT Nickel Plate Trail). At the southern end in Edwardsville, the Quercus Grove Trail also meets the MCT Nickel Plate Trail.
State: IL Length: 15.90 miles Surface: Asphalt
The Madison County Transit (MCT) Schoolhouse Trail is part of the Transit District's premier, 85-mile system of urban and suburban trails—many of which are former railroad corridors, all of which are linked with public transit. The trail begins at the southwest corner of Horseshoe Lake State Park at Harrison Street in Madison. The smooth asphalt path travels east over Route 203 via a trail bridge and then onto the old railroad corridor. For a few miles, the trail shares this route with a utility corridor and passes heavily industrial business areas. For this first part of the journey, Horseshoe Lake remains hidden from view to the southeast. But be patient. At mile 4, the lake bursts into view when the trail emerges from a pocket of trees. The lake offers excellent bird watching. In late summer, the lake's southern portion is drained, drawing snowy egrets and great blue herons to feast on clams and snails. Just after the lake comes into view, watch for a trail connection on the left—the MCT Nature Trail. Take this route if you wish to take an off-shoot trip 11 miles to the town of Edwardsville. About 1 mile farther along, the trail leaves Horseshoe's shoreline and moves to a corridor parallel to Lake Drive. You soon cross State Route 111, and the trail takes on a more rural feel, with vast farm fields on both sides. Interstate 55 looms ahead, and crossing under it brings you to the outskirts of Collinsville. Just when it seems like a more urban environment will prevail, the trail plunges you into wonderful woodlands behind very tidy neighborhoods. It is quiet through the hardwoods, disguising your proximity to a major interstate. The trees occasionally open to offer glimpses of the open fields that mark the landscape beyond the forest. The town of Maryville almost sneaks by, but you will want to catch the respite offered by Drost Park on the trail's left. Fr
State: IL Length: 5 miles Surface: Asphalt
The Madison Count Transit (MCT) Watershed Trail runs between Wanda Road in South Roxana and High Street in northwest Edwardsville. The trail follows an abandoned rail corridor and is named for the Watershed Nature Conservatory that it borders. The rail, built in 1868, was the first to serve Edwardsville. From a historical railroad trestle you get a nice view of Cahokia Creek. The Watershed Trail meets the MCT Goshen Trail after crossing over the railroad tracks (coming from Roxana). Take the left fork to stay on the Watershed Trail, the right for the Goshen Trail.
State: MO Length: 11.60 miles Surface: Asphalt, Crushed Stone
The Meramec Greenway Trail is planned to one day encompass 60 miles of pathway throughout St. Louis and west to Pacific, Missouri, connecting residents to the Meramec River, the city's parks and the area's natural treasures. Currently, four segments of the trail are complete, totaling more than 11 miles. From west to east, these sections are outlined below. Segment 1: Western Greenway - Hamilton Carr Trail to St. Paul Road The trail begins at a juncture with the Western Greenway - Hamilton Carr Trail, which can take trail-goers past the La Salle Institute campus and up to the Rockwoods Reservation. It offers beautiful views of the Meramec River and possible glimpses of the many white-tailed deer and woodpeckers that call the lush woodlands along the trail home. Segment 2: Arnold's Grove to Greentree Park This segment of the trail is flat, paved and just over 3 miles from Arnold's Grove to Greentree Park along the north bank of the river. Greentree Park offers a picnic shelter, boat ramp, athletic fields and, for the young at heart, a remote-controlled car track. Mid-way, trail-goers can also cross Marshall Road to enter Simpson Park, a forested area with a large lake where wild turkeys, barred owls and coyotes can be found. Segment 3: Unger Park to Fenton This flat, paved segment begins in Unger Park, where herons, egrets and other waterfowl can frequently be found in the park's shallow lake. This is also a relaxing spot for picnicking, fishing or playing disc golf. The path travels south along the river until it reaches Riverside Drive, where it takes a sharp turn west, following the road along residential areas. Mid-trail, you'll pass Fenton City Park, where you can stop for restrooms and water, or continue south to Olde Towne Fenton. Segment 4:
State: IL Length: 6.90 miles Surface: Asphalt
The nearly 7-mile MetroBikeLink Trail cuts across eastern Belleville connecting the Swansea MetroLink Station and Memorial Hospital Station to Southwestern Illinois College, generally following the MetroLink rail line. Bridges carry trail users safely over Richland Creek and the Norfolk Southern Railroad, as well as over Illinois Route 159 and Fullerton Road. Drinking fountains are available at both stations.
State: MO Length: 4.20 miles Surface: Asphalt
As its name implies, the Monarch Chesterfield Levee Trail was built on top of an embankment created to protect Chesterfield from Missouri River flooding. As such, it offers a wide, flat route over smooth pavement. The trail covers just over 4 miles on the western outskirts of St. Louis, beginning near the Howell Island Conservation Area, a heavily forested region popular for birdwatching, fishing and hiking. From there, the trail travels east through open grassland. Along the way, the trail provides access to the Chesterfield Valley Athletic Complex, which includes playgrounds, concession areas, restrooms and dozens of playing fields for baseball, softball, soccer and football.
State: MO Length: 11 miles Surface: Asphalt, Concrete
The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge was part of the renowned Route 66 and crosses a scenic stretch of the Mississippi River and links Illinois and Missouri north of St. Louis. The bridge is short and narrow, only 1 mile long by 24 feet wide, but it now ferries bikes and pedestrians instead of cars across the river. On the Missouri side the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge connects to the St. Louis Riverfront Trail. Chain of Rocks gets its name from the river's rocky shoals south of the bridge. From the bridge deck you'll get stupendous views of the St. Louis skyline and the Mississippi River. The water-intake towers here rise above the river like half-submerged castle turrets and classic Route 66 memorabilia is displayed on the Missouri side. Interpretive signs tell the Route 66 story and the history of the bridge.
State: MO Length: 5.50 miles Surface: Asphalt, Concrete
The River Des Peres Greenway Trail provides a flat, paved route along the River Des Peres Drainage Channel in southwestern St. Louis. Although this urban trail is seldom crowded, one of its drawbacks is that it follows the busy Des Peres Parkway, so you will experience traffic views and sounds on your journey. Mid-trail, a spur across the river on a pedestrian bridge will take travelers along the tree-lined Christy Greenway up to Holly Hills Avenue. If you take a right (turn south) on Holly Hills, you can follow the bike lane to Carondelet Park with its two scenic lakes. Future plans include extending the trail south to the Mississippi River.
State: MO Length: 1.60 miles Surface: Asphalt
Although a relatively short route, the Riverwoods Trail offers plentiful scenic views of the Missouri River and historic St. Charles. The trail closely follows the river's shoreline through wetland forest. Begin your journey at the northern trailhead off St. Charles Rock Road in Bridgeton, where you'll find restrooms, picnic tables and parking. It is hoped that one day the trail will connect to the famed Katy Trail on the other side of the river.
State: IL Length: 20.40 miles Surface: Asphalt
Big bluffs, mighty rivers, the largest state park and one giant bird—you'll find them all along the Sam Vadalabene Great River Road Bike Trail. This unique rail-trail starts in the 8,050-acre Pere Marquette State Park (named for the first European to step on Illinois soil) and follows the Illinois River to its confluence with the Mississippi River. The enormous state park (the largest in Illinois) has a rich history and limitless sights, from Native American burial mounds to educational displays to lookouts with sweeping river views. It is best known, however, for its vivid fall foliage and a winter population of the majestic bald eagle. Shortly after the park, the trail travels over a series of short but fairly steep hills and gullies. Around mile 5 you enter the town of Grafton, where the trail crosses the road and starts its run right along the riverbank of the confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers. Across the river sits the state of Missouri. This is a beautiful 0.5-mile stretch with turtles, herons and a plethora of waterfowl. Soon the trail veers off the rail corridor and passes through the quiet streets of Grafton. The trail merges with the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway, otherwise known as Highway 100, outside of Grafton, traveling along a 3- to 4-foot-wide painted bike lane that parallels the river, offering excellent water views. Traffic moves fast on this stretch, but the bike lane is wide enough for comfortable travel. Just south of Grafton is a visitor center with knowledgeable staff and a wide array of informative publications. Four miles from Grafton, you'll find a pleasant detour in the town of Elsah. Turn off the Scenic Byway at Mill Street to take a spin through the hamlet. Stone and brick houses line the narrow streets, lending Elsah a step-back-in-time quality that earned it a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. Continuing on the Scenic Byway, in stark contrast to the wide river on your ri
State: MO Length: 11.80 miles Surface: Asphalt
The St. Louis Riverfront Trail follows the Mississippi River on the Missouri side, from Gateway Arch heading north to the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, part of the legendary Route 66. The trail is distinctly urban—gritty even, in places—passing among old industrial areas along the river and atop a levee. There are plans to renovate some of the buildings. The landscape is dotted with trees, and you'll find a narrow green belt along portions of this riverfront trail; watch for wildlife in these sections. Some crossings are not paved and you'll also have to be mindful at these crossings for traffic. In addition, there are a few short hills that lead to and from the levees.
State: MO Length: 3.30 miles Surface: Asphalt, Concrete
On the St. Vincent Greenway Trail, you'll begin by winding your way north through the lush woodlands of St. Vincent Park. The park offers a playground, athletic fields and a community pool. After crossing an open field, you'll enter the University of Missouri St. Louis campus. Enjoy the native trees and interesting architecture that line the pathway.
State: MO Length: 2.40 miles Surface: Asphalt, Concrete
The Sunset Greenway Trail begins in Sunset Park, on the banks of the Missouri River, and travels along a roadway through open space to St. Ferdinand Park in Old Town Florissant. The village of Florissant was established in 1786 by the Spanish and is one of the oldest settlements in the state of Missouri. Learn about the town's history at the Old St. Ferdinand Shrine and Spanish Land Grant Park, both a short distance south of the St. Ferdinand Park trailhead.
State: MO Length: 2.20 miles Surface: Asphalt
The Ted Jones Trail runs for 2.2 miles between the town of Ferguson and the University of Missouri–St. Louis (UMSL), where it joins with the St. Vincent Greenway on the west side of campus. From Ferguson south the trail runs roughly parallel to, and between, both Florissant Road and Bermuda Avenue. When the Ted Jones Trail reaches Interstate 70, it goes under through a 392-foot-long tunnel, which is beautifully decorated with a 3-D mural. The public art was designed and created by local artists who engaged high school students to participate. At UMSL campus, the trail ends near the North MetroLink station. From here cross Bellrive Drive and pick up the St. Vincent Trail on the west side of the Millennium Student Center.
State: MO Length: 0.60 miles Surface: Dirt
This short, but beautiful trail, takes travelers from Truman Park's lake north to Aubuchon Creek through a lush wooded area. The park offers places to fish, play sports and picnic. Future plans include continuing the trail's northward course to the St. Stanislaus Conservation Area on the Missouri River.
State: MO Length: 2 miles Surface: Crushed Stone
The West Alton Trail occupies the right-of-way of an old railroad bed. It runs for 2 miles between St. Charles Street at US 67 in West Alton and the Lincoln-Shields Recreation Area at the Mississippi River near the William Clark bridge. The recreation area has a boat launch, picnicking, and restrooms. The crushed-stone trail is jointly managed by TrailNet, Inc. and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
State: MO Length: 1.50 miles Surface: Asphalt
The Hamilton Carr Trail begins off Woods Road in Rockwoods Reservation, a state forest and wildlife conservation area that offers hiking trails, picnic areas, caves and interesting rock formations. The trail continues south along Highway 109, past La Salle Institute. After passing the campus, the trail enters a wooded area on its way to the shores of the Meramec River. At its southern end, the pathway connects with the Meramec Greenway Trail, taking travelers east through several parks.